![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2443e2d803d914081950a2dbe22338df79012371.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nPerry\u2019s dismissal left the hosts reeling at 3-32 in the fourth over before Phoebe Litchfield and Ash Gardner steadied with a 31-run stand.<\/p>\n
But Litchfield (26 from 17 balls) was caught in the deep from a switch-hit \u2013 she\u2019s played a similar shot the ball before and smacked it for four \u2013 to leave the hosts 4-63 in the ninth over.<\/p>\n
The Australians were 4-78 at the midpoint and Gardner gave her side a sniff, making 57 from 45 balls before she too was caught in the deep.<\/p>\n
Gardner\u2019s departure started another Australian slump of 4-15.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually thought we kept them to a good score, it was a pretty good wicket,\u201d Molineux said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just lost some pretty important wickets at the wrong point in time.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Australian keeper Beth Mooney completes the run out of Amanjot Kaur towards the end of India\u2019s innings.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Earlier, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored with a superb 82 from 55 balls and featured in a 120-run partnership with No.3 Jemimah Rodrigues (59 from 46).<\/p>\n
Australia struck early when quick Kim Garth (1-25) dismissed Shafali Verma (seven) in the third over.<\/p>\n
Mandhana and Rodrigues then produced their fine stand, powering the tourists to 1-86 at the midpoint of their innings.<\/p>\n
The partnership was finally broken in the 17th over when Mandhana lofted Annabel Sutherland (2-34) into the leg side only for Gardner to make swift ground from deep mid-wicket and take a catch on the run.<\/p>\n
![\"Jemimah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8c453cd970df83e72082d3f27af95234f32aab2b.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Jemimah Rodrigues celebrates after taking the outfield catch to dismiss Australia\u2019s top run-scorer, Ashleigh Gardner.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The nations meet again on Tuesday in Brisbane for the first of three 50-over fixtures, ahead of a Test match starting March 6 at the WACA Ground in Perth.<\/p>\n
Those matches will be the last for ex-Australian skipper Alyssa Healy before she retires.<\/p>\n
\u201c(She) is going to bring an injection of some real excitement,\u201d Molineux said.<\/p>\n
Loading<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be her last four games for Australia, and we\u2019re going to do everything possible to send her off on the right note.<\/p>\n
The trophy for the multi-format series is decided on a points system, with two points for each T20 and 50-over victory and four points for a Test triumph.<\/p>\n